The cold war between Boomers and Millennials is being fought on many fronts, but when it comes to…
Read more Read more

A J.D. Power study reports that Millennials, aka Generation Y, now account for more new car sales than their older, more sullen, Nirvana-loving Generation X counterparts. It's only by a small percentage, but the gain is still impressive.

Year to date in 2014, Gen Y (born 1977-1994) has accounted for 26 percent of new-vehicle retail sales, putting sales to that generational group ahead of those to Gen X (born 1965-1976) for the first time. Gen X buyers purchased 24 percent of new-vehicles in the same period, according to data collected by the Power Information Network® (PIN) from J.D. Power.

Compact cars are the Millennials' favorite vehicle purchases, while Gen X-ers opt for compact SUVs. Makes sense — they're older and more inclined to have families.

Advertisement

Boomers remain the largest group of new car vehicles, because they have the most money and because the cost of cars and other goods have exceeded gains in average incomes, accounting for 38 percent of new car sales for the first six months of this year. In 2013, that number was 40 percent.